The Society of the War of 1812 in Maryland is a State Society in a confederation of other highly autonomous State Societies chartered under the umbrella of The General Society of the War of 1812. The General Society emerged through the efforts of the Society of the War of 1812 in Pennsylvania, incorporating October 25, 1893. Unlike the Association of the Defenders of Baltimore in 1814, the Pennsylvania Society had been admitting sons since before 1860. By the 1890s very few veterans of the War of 1812 were still alive. It was time to firmly establish organizations permitting descendants of the veterans of 1812.

Maryland descendants rallied to form a successor organization. The final form of organization was settled upon in 1893. In 1883, by authority granted to them in 1857 by their fathers, the descendants were eligible to take over the reins of the veterans’ organization. The Association of the Defenders of Baltimore in 1814 had modified their charter to allow their sons to take over at their inevitable passing. Calling themselves The Descendants of the Defenders of Baltimore in the War of 1812-14, the descendants organized officially on September 12, 1892, at the historic winter home of Charles Carroll of Carrollton in Baltimore. Annual meetings thereafter took place in Carroll Mansion as well, in a room where Charles Carroll entertained Washington and Layfayette.
Peter Hay, of the Pennsylvania Society had been for some time seeking a unification of War of 1812 Societies.

It was at this point in time that the The Descendants of the Defenders of Baltimore in the War of 1812-14, after much debate, accepted the vision of Peter Hay and the General Society. The Descendants of the Defenders of Baltimore in the War of 1812-14 existed for about one year, granting membership to both female and male descendants. Reorganization had a profound impact on the organization of descendants of 1812 veterans in Baltimore.

Hereafter, inclusion was not limited to the descendants of the Battle of Baltimore, but would allow descendants of 1812 veterans from any state to become members. For descendants of the Battle of Baltimore, however, The Society of the War of 1812 in Maryland continues to provide a venue for the commemoration and honor the veterans of the Battle of Baltimore by both those directly descended from the veterans of that particular conflict and those who have veteran ancestors that were in other War of 1812 conflicts.organizations permitting descendants of the veterans of 1812.

Below is a candid contemporary note to an entity acting as a registrar for Patriotic Societies. It offers a simple snapshot of Peter Hay’s intent and efforts leading up to incorporation in 1893.

Peter Hay’s General Society number is #1.